Takedown Report

Carolinas’ Colleges’ News (2021) – # 6

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A collection of articles, podcasts and blogs from across the Carolinas on college wrestlingaction the past month. University of North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor is a National Champion, Appalachian State’s Jonathan Milner is their newest All-American and North Carolina State will return several All-American wrestlers for next year. These are just some of the stories and highlights shared in the selections below. We welcome input and news to be sent in to us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Keep On Wrestling!
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1 } – North Carolina coach Coleman Scott goes On The Mat
North Carolina head coach Coleman Scott goes On The Mat
Coleman Scott was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma State and a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in London. In 2021, he coached his first individual champion at North Carolina as Austin O’Connor won the 149-pound title, becoming the Tar Heels first NCAA champion since 1995. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com. 
Show Segments
0:35 – Andy rocks a Costanza (not Costanzo) wallet.
0:51 – Kyle literally got choked up – and you WILL hear about it later (hint hint)
1:18 – Division I championship recap – Iowa got it done. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1618178481084&twSessionId=hvkhhvdaai&videoId=1154527135&mc_cid=0dc666bfba&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – @PackWrestle Look Back: Top Tournament Performances
@PackWrestle Look Back: Top Tournament Performances Under Pat Popolizio
Revisit nine of the best tournament showings over the last few seasons
Wolfpack Wrestling shines bright on the big stage. Over the last seven NCAA Championships, the Pack has finished in the top-20 each and every time – a new school record. NC State brought home its first-ever team trophy in 2018 with a fourth place showing at the NCAA Championships. In 2021, the Pack cracked the top-10 for the second time in three tournaments with a six place team finish and four All-Americans.
In conference action, the Wolfpack has won each of the last three ACC Championships (2021, 2020 & 2019), and three of the last five overall (2016). … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/4/13/wrestling-packwrestle-look-back-top-tournament-performances.aspx?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Catching up with Pat Popolizio – NCS81
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Catch-up on Wolfpack Wrestling news with head coach Pat Popolizio on episode 81 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. Host Brian Reinhardt and Popolizio run the gamut of wrestling action over the past month, from the NCAA Championships to the Olympic Team Trials to four Super Senior returning to the Pack. The duo also offer up some breaking news, boasting loudly how the podcast ranks in Japan.
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SUPPORT THE SHOW
And if you’re a fan of the extensive and broad-based reach of the shows on the Mat Talk Podcast Network, become a TEAM MEMBER today. There are various levels of perks for the different levels of team membership. If you like wrestling content — scratch that — if you LOVE great wrestling content, consider becoming a team member. You’ll get some cool stuff too. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/catching-up-with-pat-popolizio-ncs81/?mc_cid=831636c404&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Millner Named SoCon Wrestler of the Month
BOONE, N.C. — Southern Conference champion and automatic NCAA Championships qualifier Jonathan Millner of App State has been named the SoCon Wrestler of the Month for February.  
A redshirt junior from Greensboro, Millner went 4-0 last month with three wins against ranked opponents, including a 2-0 victory against Campbell’s Joshua Heil during a top-15 showdown in the SoCon Championship final at 149 pounds. At the time, Heil was ranked 11th in the country at that weight, and Millner has earned a No. 7 seed in his 33-man bracket for next week’s NCAA competition in St. Louis.  
In February, Millner also had two major decisions against another ranked opponent, Selwyn Porter of The Citadel, after posting a 10-0 major decision against VMI’s Job Chishko. Millner won by scores of 13-1 and 10-2 (in a SoCon semifinal) against Porter, a 2020 NCAA qualifier.  
Millner is 13-1 on the season after qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the second straight year. … rest of story at https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/3/12/wrestling-millner-named-socon-wrestler-of-the-month.aspx?mc_cid=adf7973f0f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Gwiazdowski into Best-of-Three Finals for Spot in Summer Olympics
Former Wolfpack national champion back in action Saturday night
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – With a pair of shutouts today, former NC State two-time national Champion Nick Gwiazdowksi has reached the final stages of qualifying to represent the U.S. at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.  
Gwiazdowski will face Gable Steveson tomorrow night in a Best-of-Three Finals series, with the winner getting to represent the U.S. at 125kg at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.  
In the Challenge Tournament semifinals in the night session, the top-seeded Gwiazdowski downed #4 seed Dom Bradley 6-0. After a clock violation point, Gwiazdowski scored an exposure to take a 3-0 lead at the break. He then added a pushout, and a takedown in the final seconds for the final margin. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/4/2/wrestling-gwiazdowski-into-best-of-three-finals-for-spot-in-summer-olympics.aspx?mc_cid=b369974b64&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Four Super Seniors to Return to @PackWrestle
All four were part of the #1 recruiting class in 2016
RALEIGH, N.C. – With the NCAA providing an extra year of eligibility for all winter sports in 2021, four members of the NC State wrestling team will take advantage of the ruling and return to the Pack as Super Seniors for the 2021-22 collegiate season.  
Thomas Bullard, Hayden Hidlay, Nick Reenan and Tariq Wilson will all be returning to the Pack’s lineup for one final season. The four were all starters and NCAA Qualifiers in 2021, and they made up part of the #1 recruiting class back in 2016.  
The four have combined to earn eight All-American honors, five individual ACC titles and have qualified for the NCAA Championships 15 out of a possible 16 seasons. They have also helped the Wolfpack win seven team trophies during their careers.  
• Thomas Bullard (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Bullard is a four-time NCAA Qualifier, his first season at 157 pounds and the last three at 165. 2022 will mark the first season he will wrestle without his twin brother, Daniel, on the same team since they came to NC State.  
• Hayden Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa.)
NC State’s first-ever four-time All-American, Hidlay announced on the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast that not only will he be returning, but he will be moving up two weight classes to 174 pounds. Hidlay became the 10^th wrestler in ACC history to win four ACC Championships, all at157 pounds, and he placed fifth at the 2021 NCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/4/6/wrestling-four-super-seniors-to-return-to-packwrestle.aspx?mc_cid=c3ca94c3de&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Lausier Lands 11 Commits for the Class of 2025
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Head wrestling coach Andy Lausier and assistants Joey Dance and Chad Walsh have been hard at work locking down the 11-man Class of 2025, officially announced by Lausier Monday.   
“The incoming recruiting class represents a huge step forward for Davidson Wrestling.  We are adding great talent and future potential to our team, but most importantly Davidson Wrestling will now operate with a roster that aligns itself with the NCAA average size among all Division I wrestling programs,” said Lausier. “With 11 incoming freshmen, and 30 total wrestlers on the team, this is the biggest recruiting class and team roster in the history of Davidson Wrestling.“
The class totaled 12 state medals and 10 competing at the national level.  
Braeden Baller | 165 | Fort Worth, Texas
Baller was a three-time Texas State Champion at All Saints Episcopal School and a Tulsa National Champion. He posted an 87-10 record and was twice a Prep Nationals All-American and Freestyle All-American.   
Nick Cambria | 125 | Cummings, Ga.
Cambria joins the Wildcats after grappling for Buford High School in Cumming, Ga. While at Buford, he compiled a 139-32 record and placed four times at the State Championship level, earning a pair of silver’s, a fourth and sixth place spot, respectively.   
Noah Frack | 141/149 | Topton, Pa.
Frack earned a state medal in 2019 and compiled a 94-12 record throughout his career at Brandywine Heights High School. He placed among the top seven in back-to-back PIAA Championships including a fifth-place result in 2020. Frack has earned a pair of medals at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, high school division, including a first-place showing in 2019.  
Matt McLaughlin | 125 | Broad Run, Va.
McLaughlin hit the century mark in wins while competing at Kettle Run High School, going 113-37 in his career. He placed as high as third at the State Championship and was a two-year captain.  
Sam Nini | 133/141 | Cream Ridge, N.J.
Nini, a New Jersey State qualifier and a three-time regional qualifier went 68-25 at Christian Brothers Academy. … rest of story at https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2021/4/12/wrestling-lausier-lands-11-commits-for-the-class-of-2025.aspx

8 } – AUSTIN O’CONNOR NAMED ACC WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) –  National champion Austin O’Connor of North Carolina has been chosen the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Year and heads up the sport’s 2021 season award winners announced on Wednesday by the conference. “We’re incredibly proud of Austin for how he represents our program,” said Head Coach Coleman Scott. “He’s truly an example for how to use hard work and dedication to reach your goals. He’s deserving of this award after the season he had. I couldn’t be more excited about what he is doing at Carolina and am looking forward to seeing how he continues to succeed.”
Connor is joined by ACC Freshman of the Year Sam Latona of Virginia Tech, while NC State’s Pat Popolizio and Pitt’s Keith Gavin received the nod as ACC Co-Wrestling Coaches of the Year. ACC season honors are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The second-seeded O’Connor’s 3-2 win over No. 1 seed Sammy Sasso of Ohio State in the 149-pound final on March 20 secured UNC’s first NCAA wrestling gold medal since 1995 and the 20th all-time by an ACC wrestler. It marked the sixth NCAA title all-time by a Tar Heel wrestler.
O’Connor, a redshirt junior from Lockport, Illinois, … rest of story at https://goheels.com/news/2021/3/31/wrestling-austin-o-connor-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-year.aspx

9} – #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 80 – The Decision with Hayden Hidlay
RALEIGH, N.C. – With the conclusion of the 2021 NCAA Championships, we now turn to the offseason on Episode 80 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. Some major decisions are going to be announced in regards to the extra year of eligibility, as host Brian Reinhardt visits with four-time All-American Hayden Hidlay to talk about his NC State Wrestling journey and what lies ahead in his future. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/3/24/wrestling-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-80-the-decision-with-hayden-hidlay.aspx?mc_cid=3727c6a762&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Our Wolfpack RTC from a Coach’s Perspective
Editor’s Note: Adam Hall joined the NC State Wrestling program for the 2015-16 season. Not only to the Wolfpack coaches serve the current roster, but they are heavily involved with the Senior-lever athletes in the Wolfpack’s RTC. As we head toward the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend, here is one perspective about all the work that goes into the job.
 
Hall: In the summer of 2019, I spent eight days in Colorado Springs with Michael Macchiavello, Tommy Gantt, and Jacob Kasper as they helped Nick Gwiazdowski and other members of the 2019 U.S. Senior World Team prepare for the World Championships. Aside from World Team members and their selected training partners, other athletes and coaches must pay for their room and board, flights, and any additional travel costs. The trip opened my eyes to the resources it takes to help athletes prepare for one of the biggest tournaments of their lives. We lived on the Olympic Training Center’s campus and trained multiple times a day in their facilities. We ate at a high-performance dining hall and utilized all resources for lifting and recovery as well in their state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center. A significant part of our Wolfpack RTC’s success comes from the outside support we receive from generous donors. Training camps, competitions, and athlete’s salaries are all funded by contributions to the RTC. I appreciate our RTC donors even more, especially after having had the opportunity to coach our RTC internationally.  
International trips have given our wrestlers a dynamic experience, but comes with high cost. After the U.S. Training Camp, Nick, Mike, Jacob and I spent two weeks overseas. The first week was spent in Germany at the Ramstein Air Force Base for a final team training camp. The second week was spent in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan for the World Championships. Ramstein afforded the opportunity to acclimate to a similar time zone before heading to Kazakhstan to compete. We lived in their on-base hotel, practiced in their community recreation center, and had meals catered for specific dietary needs. Again, the respective RTCs of coaches and athletes who were not paid for were responsible for all associated costs. Flights alone, I departed Raleigh for Munich for the training camp, left Munich heading to Nur-Sultan for the World Championships, flew back to Munich after the tournament, then finally returned to Raleigh. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/3/29/wrestling-our-wolfpack-rtc-from-a-coachs-perspective.aspx?mc_cid=a2abe03ca2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Millner becomes eighth All-American wrestler in App history at NCAA Championships
ST. LOUIS — Appalachian State wrestling added a new All-American to its history books on Saturday, March 20, when redshirt junior Jonathan Millner secured eighth place in the 149-pound weight class at the NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis. Millner was part of a record-setting seven wrestlers from App to attend, alongside Codi Russell (125), Sean Carter (133), Anthony Brito (141), Cody Bond (157), Will Formato (165) and Thomas Flitz (174). Formato and Flitz each received at-large bids to make it to the championships, while the other five Mountaineers were Southern Conference Champions in their weight class for automatic bids.
Russell, Carter and Millner were the only three to make it past the first day of the competition, with no other Mountaineers securing a win in their two matches each. Millner secured two day-one wins, while Carter and Russell both went 1-1. Carter lost to eventual national champion Roman Bravo-Young of Penn State. On day two, Carter and Russell were stopped, but Millner kept going through the tournament. Millner lost in the third round of the tournament to Austin O’Connor of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, but made up for it with a win over Duke’s Josh Finesilver in the “Wrestlebacks” bracket, allowing those who have already lost to compete for up to a third-placed finish.
O’Connor would later beat Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso to win the national title in the 149 weight class. Millner’s run came to an end against Florida State’s Kyle Parco, but he finished high enough to make Mountaineer history. By winning an All-American spot, the Greensboro native joins the seven other NCAA All-Americans in program history, Charles Parks (1941), Al Crawford (1941), Donnell Rawls (1992), Mark Fee (2002, 2003), Kyle Blevins (2012), Austin Trotman (2012) and Denzel Dejournette (2017). “I’m just really proud of Jon Jon and having another All-American in this rich tradition of App State Wrestling,” App Head Coach JohnMark Bentley was quoted … rest of story at https://www.wataugademocrat.com/sports/millner-becomes-eighth-all-american-wrestler-in-app-history-at-ncaa-championships/article_c3e13580-415a-5e26-a872-08a9adf660c3.html?mc_cid=7490ba8a46&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – ACC Champion Daniel Bullard and Sport Administrator Josh Dalton – NCS78
With the brackets still yet to be revealed, head coach Pat Popolizio goes into hiding, leaving host Brian Reinhardt with the opportunity to bring NC State Sport Administrator Josh Dalton on to the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. After we get an update from Dalton, Reinhardt will FINALLY get ACC Champion Dalton Bullard on the show for the first time. What are the differences between the Bullard twins and why does Brian still mess it up?

SUPPORT THE SHOW
And if you’re a fan of the extensive and broad-based reach of the shows on the Mat Talk Podcast Network, become a TEAM MEMBER today. There are various levels of perks for the different levels of team membership. If you like wrestling content — scratch that — if you LOVE great wrestling content, consider becoming a team member. You’ll get some cool stuff too. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/acc-champion-daniel-bullard-and-sport-administrator-josh-dalton-ncs78/?mc_cid=2cfe70fede&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 78 – ACC Champion Daniel Bullard
RALEIGH, N.C. – With the brackets still yet to be revealed, head coach Pat Popolizio goes into hiding, leaving host Brian Reinhardt with the opportunity to bring NC State Sport Administrator Josh Dalton on episode No. 78 of the #PackMentality​ Pop-Ins Podcast. After we get an update from Dalton, Reinhardt will FINALLY get 2021 ACC Champion Daniel Bullard on the show for the first time. How has life changed now that one of the Bullard twins is married? … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/3/10/wrestling-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-78-acc-champion-daniel-bullard.aspx?mc_cid=2a2fd7a25b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – COMMENTARY: NCAA extended eligibility could produce a never-before-seen Wolfpack
With the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel getting closer every day, for NC State Athletics, it will come in the form of something more than just a return to normalcy: extended eligibility. Due to the odd athletic season every collegiate athlete saw this year, the NCAA has decided to extend an extra year of eligibility for all 2020-2021 winter and fall athletes, regardless of if their team played or not. By doing so, this has given some athletes a fifth year of eligibility and in some cases, a sixth.
So what does this mean for the Wolfpack? It means we will see a large percentage of senior starters and leaders returning to their respective sports for one last season of competition, giving the team an edge through the returning experienced athletes. Benefiting greatly from the extended eligibility will be NC State wrestling. With the 2016 No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, four of those seniors will be returning to the mat for one last season. 
This includes redshirt seniors Thomas Bullard, Nick Reenan, Tariq Wilson and Hayden Hidlay. Between the four, they have qualified for nationals 15 times, won five ACC titles and received eight All-American honors. Hidlay has announced he will be moving up to the 174 weight class to compete in the 2022 season, wrestling closer in weight with his brother, national runner-up redshirt sophomore Trent Hidlay. Pack wrestling is not the only powerhouse getting its stars back. Top-seeded women’s basketball ended the season with three starters scheduled to depart from the Pack. However, due to NCAA’s new eligibility, we will see all three on the court next season. … rest of story at http://www.technicianonline.com/sports/article_b18c6f4a-9814-11eb-863f-eba335f093e8.html?mc_cid=480d7959b9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 17, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

COMPLETE LIST OF USA WRESTLING SANCTIONED EVENTS FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS AS OF APRIL 12 (112 EVENTS)

USA Wrestling is regularly publishing a list of sanctioned events as our nation and our sport comes back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this article, there are 112 tournaments/clinics listed from 33 different states over the next three months. Since our posting on April 5, there are 25 additional events which have been added to the list. The new additions are marked in bold.

The list provides an easy reference for athletes, coaches and families, in order to make plans for competitions moving forward. Not only is USA Wrestling providing events on its national schedule, but many state associations and local clubs are also developing events for athletes of all ages to participate in.

Our list will include events by date, as well as events by state.

There has been an increase in events on the state level, where more opportunity is being provided for youth and high school wrestlers, with the start of the traditional international style season in many states. We are seeing many state championship events held by various state associations.

New Jersey leads the nation with new events added to the schedule this week with five, all of which are state championships. States that added two sanctioned events this week were Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana and Texas. Other states adding a new sanctioned event were Alaska, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The National event schedule includes the UWW Cadet U15 and Futures Nationals in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (April 23-25), the UWW Junior and Senior Nationals in Coralville, Iowa (April 30-May 2), the Women’s Nationals in Irving, Texas (May 7-8), USA Wrestling Kids Nationals in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (June 24-26) and the USMC Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D. (July 16-23).

Included also are the three National Duals: the 14U National Duals in Franklin, Indiana (June 9-13), the 16U National Duals in Westfield, Indiana (June 9-13), the Junior National Duals in Tulsa, Okla. (June 15-19)

Now on the schedule are the Northern Plains Regionals in Wisconsin (May 14-16), the Northeast Regionals in Pocono Manor, Pa. (May 14-16), the Western Regionals in Utah (May 13-15), the Central Regionals in Indiana (May 21-23), the Southeast Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla. (May 20-23) and the Southern Plains Regionals in Kansas (June 4-6).

This information is also available through USA Wrestling’s membership system, TheMat.com website and on usawevents.com by using the system’s sort capability, but this posting will be an easy-to-use format for you to use in your planning. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/April/12/Sanctioned-events-as-of-April-12?mc_cid=3018ac16e0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 17, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 12 {International}

TDR Editor’s Notes ; This year could be the 5th consecutive summer Olympic games with women’s wrestling competition. The growth in wrestling opportunities for women continues on all levels. Thus this is our first collection of articles focused just on the international teams and competitions. Keep on Wrestling.
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – WCL announces hosts for 2022-2024 events, reissues bid
OTTAWA – Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) has announced the results of its request for proposal for event hosting for 2022 to 2024.
Six events were put up for bid, and following a detailed assessment by WCL’s Event Hosting Advisory Committee and ratification by the Board of Directors, WCL is pleased to announce that hosts for the following events have been approved:
2022 Wrestling Trials (Cadet, Junior, Senior) – Edmonton, AB
2023 Wrestling Championships (U17 & U19) – Vancouver, BC
2024 Wrestling Championships (U17 & U19) – Mississauga, ON
Some bids received were not compliant with new regulations, and as such, the BOD has approved the reissuance of RFPs for the following events in the near future:
2022 Canadian Wrestling Championships
2023 Canadian Wrestling Trials
2024 Canadian Wrestling Trials … rest of story at https://wrestling.ca/wcl-announces-hosts-for-2022-2024-events-reissues-bid/?mc_cid=2a2fd7a25b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – MENSAH-STOCK WINS GOLD TO CLAIM FIRST MEDAL FOR USA AT MATTEO PELLICONE
ROME – 2019 World champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock dominated in her finals match to earn gold at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone International in Rome, Italy, on Friday.
RECAP FROM MORNING SESSION
Wrestling at 68 kg, Tamyra Mensah-Stock continued an impressive day with an 11-0 performance over 2020 Individual World Cup bronze medalist Mimi Hristova of Bulgaria in the gold-medal finals. Mensah-Stock used two takedowns to propel her to a 4-0 lead at the break. Early in the second period, she tacked on another takedown, followed by two sets of exposure to give Mensah-Stock a 10-0 win. However, Bulgaria’s corner challenged but it failed, resulting in another point for the American.
Mensah-Stock’s gold is the first medal for the United States this weekend at the event.
Also competing for a medal at 68 kg was 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Alex Glaude, who took on 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist Olivia Di Bacco of Canada in the bronze match. Glaude led halfway through the second period, but a late takedown eventually gave Di Bacco a 6-4 win, and Glaude finished fifth. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/March/05/Mensah-Stock-wins-gold-at-Pellicone?mc_cid=92195b958e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And WRESTLING HELPED TAMYRA MENSAH-STOCK FIND HER CONFIDENCE AND HER CALLING
Listen to Tamyra Mensah-Stock speak for more than a minute or two and it’s difficult to imagine her as anything but the self-assured world champion she has become. 
Her personality is effervescent, determined, brimming with belief. Traits that suggest she could excel at anything she tried. But that’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg dilemma for the 28-year-old, simply because the sport itself has been so critical to her growth. “I’ve always been a bubbly person,” she said. “But confident? Not so much. Wrestling really helped me.”
Mensah-Stock’s path to becoming the top-ranked wrestler in the world in her weight class began reluctantly. As a sophomore at Morton Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, track and field was her sport of choice, as it had been for years. She ran the 200-meter, sometimes the 400, and the longer sprint relays, in addition to competing in the triple jump and long jump. 
One day, her twin sister Tarkiya, who was on the Morton Ranch wrestling team, said the sport’s coaches had suggested she try and convince Tamyra to join the squad. It didn’t seem a natural fit. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/February/24/Wrestling-Helped-Tamyra-Mensah-Stock-Find-Her-Confidence-And-Her-Calling?mc_cid=7c3cd1ad34&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Anthony, Moore Star for USA with Gold at Matteo Pellicone
OSTIA, Italy (March 7) — Victory ANTHONY (USA) had been to five Ranking Series before arriving in Rome for the Matteo Pellicone event. For all her efforts, she had won two bronze medals scattered over 2019 and 2020. Despite being one of the top wrestlers at 50kg, Anthony somehow had failed to finish at the top of the podium at major international events. But Saturday was different.
Wrestling at her second Matteo Pellicone event, the USA wrestler showcased why she is still a force to reckon by winning the gold medal after defeating European champion Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) 15-10 in the final on Saturday. This was USA’s second gold medal in women’s wrestling as Taymara Mensah-Stock won the gold at 68kg on Friday. “It was the biggest win for me in recent history which is like five years,” Anthony said. “This is the first tournament where I have wrestled to my potential, peak ability. I am really happy with that.” … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/anthony-moore-star-usa-gold-matteo-pellicone?mc_cid=3fad4ffad8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Di Bacco picks up silver, Wiebe bronze in Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine – Olivia Di Bacco and Erica Wiebe reached the podium at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial tournament. Di Bacco, of Orillia, Ont., lost the 68 kg gold medal match 1-1 on criteria to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan. Each wrestler scored a point for passivity, but Di Bacco was unable to score after trailing on criteria. Wiebe won her bronze medal matchup against Anna Melnyk of Ukraine with a pin. Wiebe, of Stittsville, Ont., had pinned two other opponents in the tournament to reach the bronze medal match. … https://wrestling.ca/di-bacco-picks-up-silver-wiebe-bronze-in-ukraine/?mc_cid=02f3563d01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – GRAY ON THE MIC
Coming To You Live…
It’s fair to say we’re all BIG fans of the 2016 Olympian and 5X Senior World Champion Adeline Gray. I’m here to say that many of us are also BIG fans of Adeline Gray on the competition mic!
Gray has recently hosted event commentary for two major wrestling events:
2021 All-WFS Captains Cup
2021 PAC-12 Wrestling Championships
The Olympian is no stranger to public speaking and being one of the faces of Team USA Wrestling and non-profit Wrestle Like A Girl. But having her on the sports commentary is a different game. And she’s good at it.
During the Captain’s Cup, it was assumed someone from FloWrestling would be “manning” the mic like the RTC Cup event. So it made perfect sense for Gray to join Flo’s Mark Bader for both days of Captains’ Cup commentary since she was in Iowa for the event. … rest of story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/gray-on-the-mic/?mc_cid=d34d798fb2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Eight Years After Olympic Struggle, Women Look to Become Wrestling’s Next Generation of Leaders
CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 8) — When Nenad Lalovic was appointed interim president of the international federation for wrestling in 2013 the sport faced an uphill battle for Olympic reinstatement and lacked wide-reaching respect among those in the global sports community.  Behind the scenes, the federation was suffering from a number of issues, primary among them an ineffective outreach to female athletes and leaders. Few opportunities existed for women interested in taking the mats and even fewer were available for those interested in positions of leadership.  

On the mats women only had four Olympic weight categories while their male counterparts in freestyle enjoyed seven. There were few female bureau members, no commissions aimed at increasing diversity, and an overall dearth of experienced women in place to change the future. “We knew that we needed to change,” said Lalovic. “Re-branding and changing the rules were important, but as a federation it was vital we make efforts to diversify and include more women. We wanted to find a way to promote their activities and give them opportunities to succeed and gain experience.” … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/eight-years-after-olympic-struggle-women-look-become-wrestlings-next-generation-leaders?mc_cid=b1fa7a1c33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Epp Mäe does not give up single point in victory in Ukraine
Estonian freestyle wrestler Epp Mäe was victorious in a United World Wrestling (UWW) tournament in Kyiv, Ukraine, over the weekend, not giving up a single point in her tournament win. The 28-year old Mäe, participating in the Kyiv tournament in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in summer, started the tournament with a win over Catelina Axente, last year’s European championships bronze medalist. Mäe won on points – 6:0.

The Estonian went into the quarterfinals, facing Lithuanian wrestler Kamile Gaucaite. Mäe took a dominant 10:0 win in the first half of the match-up. Mäe then faced off against two-time European champ Belarusian Vasilisa Marzaliuk, giving up no points to the Belarusian and finishing with a 4:0 victory, taking the Estonian into the finals.

Mäe’s Saturday night final saw her face off against 21-year old Kyrgyzstani wrestler Aiperi Medet Kyzy, who took a silver medal in the 2020 Asian Championships in New Delhi. Mäe took the final at a score of 2:0 – one point coming from passivity from Kyzy in the first half and the second coming from Mäe forcing the young Kyrgyzstani out of the ring in the second half. … rest of story at https://news.err.ee/1608126325/epp-mae-does-not-give-up-single-point-in-victory-in-ukraine

7 } – Competitive Last Chance Qualifier Finalizes the Field for Olympic Team Trials
Fort Worth, Texas — Competition at the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier was fierce. The high school standouts came out strong and didn’t let up. Sage Mortimer, a senior from Utah, absolutely upended the competition at 50 kg, winning matches over four college All-Americans—including this year’s NCAA and NAIA finalists—to earn the top spot. At 68 kg, Kennedy Blades (Sunkist Kids) and Kylie Welker (Nazar Trained) shutout everyone in their way. Welker was able to score in the finals, but Blades proved to be the top contender with another unstoppable tech, 16-6. All three high schoolers earned spots at their first Olympic Team Trials.

Nearly half of the field was college wrestlers. The 53 kg final was a battle between All-Americans Melanie Mendoza (King/NCWWC fifth at 116) and Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa/NCWWC finalist at 123) with Mendoza winning 7-6 after Gallegos’ corner lost a final challenge. The match came down to a funky exchange in the final seconds. This full use of six minutes was standard for Mendoza, and a reminder that a wrestling match is a complete six minutes. In the semis she was down by six points with just over a minute left in the match—her high-c and adjustments on the finish earned her the takedown and exposure to win on criteria, but she ended the match over Victoria Smith by fall. Mendoza and Gallegos both qualified for the Olympic Team Trials. … rest of story at https://www.transitionwrestling.com/competitive-last-chance-qualifier-finalizes-the-field-for-olympic-team-trials/?mc_cid=6c27c8fabf&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Estrella-Beauchamp excited for trip to US Olympic Trials
Baldwin grad to have in-person support from cousin Estrella
Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp is headed to rare territory for a Maui wrestler — the U.S. Olympic Trials this week in Fort Worth, Texas. Her cousin Nanea Estrella will be along to provide support. Estrella-Beauchamp, a 2020 Baldwin High School graduate who competes for Midland University in Fremont, Neb., qualified for the trials via her NAIA national championship at 143 pounds earlier this month. She is the first trials qualifier from Maui since Grant Nakamura made it to the men’s event in 2008. Women’s wrestling was added to the Olympics in 2004.
“I have exactly one week left,” Estrella-Beachamp said Saturday via phone from Nebraska. “I’m very excited, this is a blessing and an opportunity. I have worked very hard to get to where I am and I’m just so grateful and humble and everyone else for helping me.” … rest of story at https://www.mauinews.com/sports/local-sports/2021/03/estrella-beauchamp-excited-for-trip-to-us-olympic-trials/?mc_cid=a2abe03ca2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Helen Maroulis, trailblazing Olympic wrestling champion, back at trials after briefly retiring
Helen Maroulis had enough. She grabbed her phone, called her mom and said it: I’m retiring. That was a year and a half ago. Maroulis, who in 2016 became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic wrestling title, was by the end of 2017 one of the world’s dominant athletes not only in her sport, but also across all sports.

Life changed on Jan. 10, 2018. Maroulis suffered a head injury in a match in India. She endured most of 2018 and 2019 sidelined by concussions, shoulder surgery and post-traumatic stress disorder. She spent days in dark, silent rooms. She wore noise-canceling headphones and special glasses. At its worst, she didn’t recognize her own reflection in the mirror. It got really bad after her last concussion in August 2019. She wondered if she would ever return to a normal life. “I just decided that I wanted to be done with wrestling at that time,” she said last week.

But Maroulis is not done with the craft that she’s loved since going 1-30 in her first year at age 7. Following her brother onto the mat, she bet their dad that if she won her first match, she could continue. It turned out to be her only victory all year. … rest of story at https://sports.yahoo.com/helen-maroulis-trailblazing-olympic-wrestling-111321235.html?mc_cid=44df579129&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – JACARRA WINCHESTER FIGHTS HER WAY TO OLYMPIC WRESTLING TEAM
Jacarra Winchester broke out in an ear-to-ear smile then quickly covered her face with both hands and dropped from her knees to her back on the wrestling mat. Her upper body heaved with the emotion of knowing she was going to the Olympic Games this summer in Tokyo, even though she’d expected nothing less.

“No surprise there,” she clarified in her post-match press conference at last weekend’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling in Fort Worth, Texas. “I was happy. There’s a difference. … All your emotions hit you when you realize, ‘I’m going to the Olympics.’” Winchester, 28, is already a world champion. She earned that title in 2019 as the U.S. women had their best showing ever at the world championships with a total of three gold medalists. Now she’ll be favored to reach the podium, if not win it all, in her Olympic debut. 

Winchester, who grew up in Oakland, California, said she has always been a fighter. As a kid who had a lisp, she was the target of bullying, but not an easy target by any stretch. “I just didn’t take any mess from anybody,” she told reporters. “You want to fight, we’re going to fight. I don’t do bullying. I think you should treat everyone the way you want to be treated. If someone was looking for a fight and wanted to fight me, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt and always say, ‘I don’t want to fight,’ but if you keep poking the bear the bear’s going to turn around and attack.” … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/April/09/Jacarra-Winchester-Fights-Her-Way-To-Olympic-Wrestling-Team?mc_cid=e835860738&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#.YHCLJEp6q7I.twitter

10 } – MAROULIS, GRAY RETURN TO OLYMPICS; U.S. WOMEN MENSAH-STOCK, HILDEBRANDT, WINCHESTER AND MIRACLE QUALIFY FOR THEIR FIRST GAMES IN TOKYO
FORT WORTH, Texas — In 2019, Tamyra Mensah-Stock won a world championship. Saturday night she earned the right to try to win an Olympic gold medal. Fittingly for her, it was deep in the heart of Texas.
A native of Katy, Texas, Mensah-Stock (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won the 68 kg best-of-three series 2-0 against rising star 17-year-old Kennedy Blades (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 12-4 and 8-1. Mensah-Stock collapsed to her knees and could be heard shrieking with joy after her second win, which punched her ticket to the Tokyo Games.

“This has been a long time coming. In 2016, I fell short. I wanted to come back and prove to everybody and myself that I could become an Olympian and I did it. I’m so proud of myself. There’s no pressure now. I went out there and qualified the weight class, so I knew I had to represent the U.S. at 68 kg in Tokyo,” said Mensah-Stock. Adeline Gray (New York Athletic Club) will be on hand to give Mensah-Stock, and the rest of the U.S. women’s freestyle team, any advice she or they might need in Tokyo. Gray, the five-time World Champion and 2016 Olympian, maintained her stranglehold on 76 kg.
Kylie Welker (TMWC), who wrote a Cinderella story with her march from a No. 14 seed to the finals, was no match for Gray, who rolled to 10-0 and 11-0 wins. Helen Maroulis (SKWC/Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) can offer valuable advice on not only attending an Olympic Games, but also winning a gold. The 2016 gold medal winner, the first in U.S. history, will be trying to duplicate that feat. She had to work hard to represent the U.S. at 57 kg this time around. Her best-of-three series with Jenna Burkert (Army WCAP) went the distance. Maroulis rallied for a 5-3 win in the first. 
… rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/April/04/Womens-freestyle-wrap-at-OTT?mc_cid=7136a52740&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – TOKYO 202ONE – Miracle makes first Olympic team after winning 2021 Olympic Trials Saturday evening
FORT WORTH, Texas – Kayla Miracle is Tokyo bound after winning the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials at 62kg and will make her Olympic debut this summer. Miracle, a 2019 World Team member, 2019 U23 World silver medalist and three-time U23 World Team member, triumphed over Macey Kilty (SKWC) in the best-of-three series, being extended to three matches. 
Miracle, 24, won 8-4 in the first, but Kilty battled back to pull even with a 4-3 win in bout two. In the deciding third bout, Miracle scored a takedown and Kilty could not continue, giving Miracle an injury default win and a spot on the Olympic Team.  Miracle was joined in Texas at the Olympic Trials by fellow Lady Tiger alums and current roster members – Abby Nette (57kg), McKayla Campbell (50kg), Mariah Harris (76kg), Alexandra Castillo (76kg) and Charlotte Fowler (50kg). 
The U.S. women’s team will have the fire-power to challenge powerhouse Japan for supremacy in the Tokyo Games. The group includes an Olympic champion, two Olympians, four World champions, five World medalists and all six with Senior World Championships experience.
Her teammates have vast experience at the international level. Helen Maroulis (57 kg) will look to defend her 2016 gold medal at the Rio Olympic games, Adeline Gray (76 kg) a five-time world champion and competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) who was the 2018 world silver medalist, 2019 world champion Jacarra Winchester (53 kg), and Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg) will make her Olympic debut after falling short in the 2016 trials.  Miracle was a four-time WCWA National Champion during her time at Campbellsville University. Her fourth title in 2018 secured the Lady Tigers their first WCWA national title in program history. … rest of story at https://campbellsvilletigers.com/news/2021/4/4/womens-wrestling-miracle-makes-her-first-olympic-team-after-winning-the-2021-olympic-trials-saturday-evening.aspx?mc_cid=7136a52740&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – University of Calgary wrestling legend Wiebe named to Canada West Hall of Fame
From not making the varsity team during her rookie year at the University of Calgary to Olympic champion, Erica Wiebe’s hall of fame story is an inspiring one. The 2016 Olympic gold medallist was announced Tuesday as the latest inductee in the Canada West Hall of Fame. A five-year student-athlete with the Dinos wrestling team between 2007-12, Wiebe was a three-time CIS gold medallist as a student-athlete, helping the Dinos to three conference titles and a national championship.

But it wasn’t always easy for Wiebe, who used her time at the University of Calgary to build on her love of the sport and grow into elite company. While with Calgary, Wiebe was a three-time CIS gold medallist in the 72-kilogram division (2009, ’11, ’12) and part of three Canada West team championships (2008, ’09, ’11), along with one CIS championship team (2009). … rest of story at https://calgarysun.com/sports/olympics/u-of-c-wrestling-legend-wiebe-named-to-canada-west-hall-of-fame?mc_cid=e764d9125d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 17, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment